without a maypole?
Unthinkable!
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| The maypole arrives . . . |
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| . . . in traditional manner. |
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| It's erection by 20 men is a slow and careful process . . . |
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| . . . using only ropes and poles. |
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| Finally above the surrounding trees . . . |
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| . . . the maypole stands proud. |
Every Austrian town and village worth its salt will now have one. And why not?
After all, we are now in the Merry Month of May.
I believe we owe it to future generations to preserve our ancient and charming traditions.
Here are a pair of couples making merry:
Do you have a maypole tradition where you are?
It looks like a totem pole. It is a very splendid Maypole. I have never seen any maypoles around here. I believe the Maypole tradition originated in your old country, Wales, and spread to England. Maybe it was very diluted by the time it got this far east. My mother regarded the Maypole as a heathen tradition.
ReplyDeleteYour mother is doubtless right. I have to say I am proud to be counted amongst the so-called heathens. Interestingly the name Haydn means heathen. The famous composers the brothers Haydn were born near a Roman edifice called to this day the Haydn Tor (Heathen's Gate). The maypole and other ancient customs relating to the calendar are frequently seen in those parts of Austria such as the Carnuntum area and Salzkammergut, the mountains, rivers and lakes - places where the Celtic peoples had their communities
DeleteYears a go people danced around the May pole then they started going to discos dancing round their handbags and listening to Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree. I jest.
ReplyDeleteIt must of been great in medieval times to dance around the Maypole and hope for a fertile year. Great photographs Gwil!
One day I was going along minding me own business when suddenly before me very eyes in a village square a maypole complete with ribbons and people dancing. Needless to say the local gentry offered me a seat on their bench and passed along the schnapps bottle . . . the rest is a blur.
DeleteSounds a good time had by all.
ReplyDeleteThey don't do these things by halves.
DeleteThere used to be one in the village where the farm is but i think it died out about fifty years ago and has never been revived. I have a photograph dating from that time.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is sad such traditions have died out though.
I think it's time they made a come back, before they are lost forever.
DeleteLove it! What a great tradition. Do you get cuckoos where you run? I ask because there’s one calling outside here as I type.
ReplyDeleteThe Hallstatt lake looked beautiful and congrats on a decent collection of long runs last week 👍
Thank you CT. I heard some cuckoos in April in the Province of Burgenland in the area near the Neusiedler Lake by the Hungarian Border. The Halstatt lake is in the Province of Upper Austria which is more mountainous, and lies under the Dachstein massif so maybe less cuckoos up there.
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